Wolves promoted to Premiership

Sheffield United 0, Wolves 3

Wolves ended their 19-year exile from the top flight with a convincing victory over Sheffield United in the Division One play-off final at the Millennium Stadium.

First-half goals from Mark Kennedy, Nathan Blake and Kenny Miller proved decisive as a fine season for the Blades ended in disappointment.

Wolves seized the initiative early on, they knocked United out of their stride right at the start with their focused aggression and, in the second minute, Blake sent a shot inches wide after Miller set him up.

Just two minutes later, Wolves were ahead.

Miller again worked the opening, outwitting two defenders before laying the ball wide to an unmarked Kennedy, who struck a sweet left-footed shot that spun past Paddy Kenny and into the corner of the net.

In the 22nd minute, Paul Ince rose purposefully to meet a corner from the left and nod goalwards and Blake was on hand to force the ball over the line with his head from close range.

The Blades almost got back into the game fortuitously six minutes before the interval when a Peter Ndlovu cross cannoned off Ince and looped goalward, but goalkeeper Matt Murray got across speedily to turn the ball away.

On the stroke of half-time, Wolves went three up when a Shaun Newton cross was delicately finish by Miller, who had stolen in between the last defender and goalkeeper.

The first half ended in acrimony as Neil Warnock launched a verbal tirade apparently aimed at referee Steve Bennett that saw the controversial Blades boss barred from the touchline for the second half.

Referee Steve Bennett handed United a way back into the match in the 48th minute when he harshly awarded a penalty when the ball hit Paul Butler’s arm in the box.

The chance went begging anyway, though, with Murray doing well to anticipate Michael Brown’s shot, and dive to his left to push it away.

Midway through the second half it became clear the gods were finally backing Wolves as United desperately pushed forward.

The young goalkeeper pulled off a superb block to keep out a Paul Peschisolido header and then Kennedy was lucky to get away with a handball that denied Phil Jagielka after he drove in the rebound.

Murray was in action again almost immediately to turn a good Michael Tonge free-kick onto the post.

Robert Page saw the goal gaping when he followed in but lashed his shot over the crossbar.

Those opportunities were as good as it got for the Blades, who will have to comfort themselves over the summer with memories of their near misses in the FA Cup, Worthington Cup and play-offs.